Frog Family Tips for Using a Stroller at Disney World

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Whether or not to bring a stroller at Disney World can be a tricky decision. Will it be a hassle? Will the kids get too tired of walking? Will I be too tired after a full day of pushing? Every family is different. Some parents choose not to bring a stroller at all and rest frequently throughout the day, while others bring some wheels along so the kids can konk out when they need to. Lily's stroller usually ends up more like a shopping cart by the end of the day, piled up with discarded jackets, half-full water bottles and souvenirs.

A trip to Disney involves a lot of walking and is likely to tire out everyone at some point, especially younger children and even those who don't normally use a stroller. For those choosing to travel with a stroller at Disney World, here are some tips to make life easier for you and those around you while visiting the parks.

Bring Your Own

For those visiting with young kids, we first recommend bringing your own stroller to Disney World if you don’t mind traveling with it. Rentals can add up quickly, and the umbrella strollers available in the parks are expensive for their size and look exactly alike. It can be a pain to travel with it, but having my own stroller makes life a lot easier. It’s easier to identify, I know how it maneuvers and it has the features I need — no more, no less.

If you are bringing an infant with you, I highly recommend a stroller with a removable car seat. Strollers must be parked outside of the attractions, but most shows and even some slow-moving rides will allow you to bring the car seat inside.

Get a Rental

If you do choose to use a rental, pre-paying for the duration of your vacation will save a few dollars. You have the option of renting from Disney World or even a featured stroller rental provider.

Disney stroller rental locations are typically near the entrance of each park. Both single and double strollers are available and have two cup holders, a seatbelt and a sun shade, and they come with a complimentary name placard to help identify your stroller. A single stroller rental currently costs $15 per day, and a double costs $31 per day. Buying multi-day/length of stay rental saves $2 per day for a single and $4 per day for a double. A $100 deposit is required for strollers rented at Disney Springs.

Keep in mind, stroller rentals are only available at the four main parks and Disney Springs, not at the resorts or water parks. You cannot remove strollers from the theme parks, so if you're park hopping, you will need to need to rent (and return) at each park. Hang onto your receipt, because you only need to pay once a day! While I don't generally recommend renting, it's helpful to know that it's an option in case you change your mind about needing one or forget your own.

Buy a Cheap One

I’d only recommend buying a new stroller if you have a longer vacation period that isn’t limited to the parks and you didn’t bring your own, whether you forgot or changed your mind. If the Disney World stroller rental costs are significantly higher than the price tag of a cheap stroller from a local Target, Wal-Mart or even Amazon (Prime can bring it directly to your hotel!), it makes more sense to buy. That way, if you choose to venture outside of the parks, you can take the stroller with you. You can always bring it home, or if you want to pass on some Disney magic, gift it to another frog family waiting in the rental line on your last day of vacation.

The Frog Family's Top Tips for Using a Stroller at Disney World

1. Know your stroller

Whether it’s your personal stroller or a rental, make sure you are familiar with the stroller. It will make your trip so much easier if you know how to apply the brakes, how to collapse the stroller and how it maneuvers. If renting, take a few minutes before loading up and heading off into the park to familiarize yourself with these features. With hundreds of strollers traveling through the parks at any given time, it’s invaluable to have some kind of identifier. Disney rental strollers come with a paper “license plate” that you can write a name on to identify yours from the dozens of other beige Disney strollers. Even though it’s Disney, you don’t want to leave a bunch of stuff with your unattended stroller, especially valuables. I’ve seen different colored ribbons attached to strollers as identifiers, like luggage on a bag claim belt, to help distinguish one stroller from another. Other folks have decorated with string lights, duct tape or carabiners and key chains.

2. Be prepared to collapse your stroller

Strollers must be folded when utilizing Disney transportation, which includes parking lot trams and Disney buses. Traveling light will make it easier to load and unload in these situations. When getting off of the parking lot tram, make sure to move past the yellow line before opening and reloading your stroller so that the tram can leave to pick up other passengers.

3. Gear up for the weather

Despite being known as the Sunshine State, Florida is notorious for its sudden showers, especially on summer afternoons. It’s always a good idea to be prepared for these surprise showers with a water-repellant cover made for your stroller, or in a pinch, one of those handy ponchos works almost as well. Keeping a spare towel around can come in handy, as well, whether for drying off after a rainstorm or after a good splash in Casey Jr. Splash 'N' Soak (not to mention unexpected spills).

Consider bringing or buying a customizable stroller fan for those hot summer days. It’ll cool the tadpoles down and keep complaining to a minimum. Plus, it’s a bonus if it helps make a plain Disney stroller rental stand out.

4. Care for your stuff

As the day goes on, stuff inevitably accumulates on the stroller. Kids' half-eaten snacks are crumbled in the seat, heavy backpacks are draped over the handles. I have two tips that will help keep your stroller and stuff in good condition. First, take valuables with you any time you leave your stroller. There is typically no one assigned to watch your stroller, and even if there was, how in the world would they remember which stroller goes with which family? Bringing your stuff with you into an attraction or restaurant also means that if you come out and someone has accidentally taken your stroller, you still have your stuff. Second, finish or tightly close any open food. Squirrels and birds are bold at Disney World. They seem to instinctively know when the coast is clear and they can ravage through that package of partially eaten Goldfish crackers or the remnants of your Mickey pretzel, leaving your stroller a crummy, dirty mess (and some unhappy tadpoles without snacks). Many attractions do not allow food and drinks inside, so finish eating before you enter or bring some extra plastic zipper bags to store leftovers.

5. If you rent, keep the receipt

If you rent from Disney, make sure to hold on to the receipt AND the tickets they give you, even if you are only renting for one day, and keep these two items separate. If your stroller is lost, it can be replaced at no charge if you have the ticket or receipt for that day.

6. Stay to the right

In the United States, people naturally tend to walk on the right. Following the flow of traffic will make traveling through the parks more fluid, and feel less like salmon swimming upstream. However, not everyone sticks to the right, and sometimes cast members will give specific directions concerning walkways during events or busy afternoons. Follow the flow of traffic and heed cast member's instructions as you travel throughout Disney World.

7. Watch out for pedestrians

With so much to see at Disney, it’s hard to remember to watch out for what’s around you. I am guilty of almost running into a family posing for a photo because I was distracted by the lights and sights. Consider the stroller a vehicle and those around you pedestrians. Just like on the road, sometimes pedestrians do silly things like suddenly swerve in front of you or stop unexpectedly, and there is only so much you can do to avoid a collision even if its due to the actions of the other person. Especially on crowded days or during events like parades and fireworks, I am hyper-aware of what is right in front of my stroller so I don’t run over anyone. Also, it’s a stroller, not a tank. I’ve seen folks use their strollers like a battering ram to get through a crowd with no remorse for whomever’s ankles might get scuffed up in the process. Stroller or not, Disney requires patience and courtesy for everyone as we all enjoy the parks.

8. Park and walk to parades

Parade time can get chaotic at the Disney parks, especially at Magic Kingdom. There are people everywhere, and they line up early. One trick I use when traveling with a stroller is to drop it off in the designated stroller parking area of whichever attraction I plan to head to after the parade, then go find a spot. We don’t have to line up as early because it’s easier to maneuver without the stroller, and I know it’s already waiting for me after the next attraction. The kids used to complain that they couldn’t see from the stroller and I would end up holding them anyway. Not having to deal with it during parades is so much easier. It’s a small thing that saves a little time and hassle, and it leaves more space for other people to enjoy the parade, as well.

9. Don’t panic

Sometimes strollers are moved. The cast members are not playing tricks on you or trying to be mean; they are doing their jobs. Often, cast members will move strollers in order to organize them and make them more easily available at the exit of the attraction. If a stroller is left in a walkway or an area in which it doesn’t belong, cast members will typically move it to the designated stroller parking area. The signs for these are sometimes hard to see, but you can usually identify them by looking for an area where strollers are neatly organized near the exit of an attraction. So if you come off of a ride and find that your stroller is not where you left it, don’t panic or cry thief. It’s probably just been moved to the designated area. If you don’t see it, let a cast member know where you left it and ask if it might have been moved and to where.

Traveling with a stroller at Disney World can be hard. Hopefully, these tips will make the trip easier and more enjoyable for you and your kids. Now it's your turn! Share your tips for making stroller life easier at Disney World and the other theme parks.

Comments

I was wondering about bringing a side by side double stroller but am worried it will be impossible to get around the Disney shops if we want to look at merchandise. Was wondering if anyone had experience with this type of stroller and getting around the parks and shops.

We have traveled with both a side by side and a front/back tandem and didn't have any trouble navigating the stores. They can be a nightmare to fold and bring on the trams, so after the first time we opted to get there early to park close and walk to the gates rather than take the tram. We also always took the boat rather than the monorail (after doing it once so the kids could experience it).

Hey! So our stroller meets the 52” length limit when open but when closed it is 62”. Can we take it on the buses at Disney? We are in a weird situation of having infant twins and a young 2 yr old so it’s a triple stroller.

We don't think there is any clarification regarding glider boards in Disney's rules, but we HAVE seen them in the parks and there doesn't seem to be an issue. (We also think they're the coolest thing ever.)

Hi there, we are traveling with two toddlers and planning on bringing their double stroller, I there a size limit? This was mentioned to me but I haven't been able to find any park limits on stroller size. Thank you, Tanya

This is largely personal preference. We never needed a double stroller with the age difference between Tad and Lily. I have always preferred the smaller umbrella strollers in the parks because they are lighter, easy to collapse and easy to maneuver, and really only use my Bob for jogging or for “rough terrain” type of situations.

Hi everyone we are going there this September I have 2 little ones 3 and 1 so yes we decided we are taking two small strollers instead of the double that I have the city select its bulky and big. Hope it works out

Hi, I will be there in Disneyworld on December (1 to 15), do you think I will need a stroller clip fan? We went on september 2016 and it was super hot so our biggest regret was not to have one (it is not a common gadget in my country so I need to order one if you think so) Thank you very much!

Great question! December weather in Florida is typically in the mid-high 70's with lower humidity than you likely experienced September. Depending on what type of weather you're used to, you may or may not need the fan! We wouldn't use one ourselves, but might recommend getting one just to be safe.

2 girls.. 5 yrs and 7 yrs old.. will get tried walking all day at magic kingdom... flying from Canada to Orlando.. taking a double stroller (i have to buy one first then pay airline 50$ to put it in cargo as a second piece of checked in bag) then take to Disney. Would it be a more wiser solution to just rent it at disney a double stroller for 30$ US? i would even prefer no stroller at all but the 5 yr or 7 yr old may get tried and i am the only adult with them. What are the recommendations?

I have twins so a stroller was a must. We have a trip coming this winter and I rented a double stroller from Kingdom Strollers. It was much cheaper than renting at the parks and they have really nice strollers. I did some research before picking them and they had all positive reviews.

We are coming to disney March 2019, we have a double stroller with joey seat in front and extra ride board in back! All of this does not fold up is there like a VIP parking so we wouldnt have to use bus or tram, we have 6 kids(1y twins, 3yr,5yr,8yr and 10yr

Hi- can you please say where you got that info about Wagons not being allowed? My SIL just rented this for our upcoming trip and now I'm worried it won't be allowed in the parks. can you confirm? Thanks!!

We have a 2 month old and a 22 month old. Our 2 month old’s car seat clicks into our stroller, but I’m worried about it getting stolen. I plan to wear the 2 month old too, but an Umbrella stroller wouldn’t be safe for her and I know won’t wear her the entire day. Will the car seat insert likely work?

While we can't make any promises, we wouldn't worry about your car seat and/or stroller being stolen. We haven't heard of any problems like this occurring. There are so many people with so much of their own stuff to keep track of, no one will think about touching yours!

When my kids were younger, we rented Disney strollers. We had 3 separate one week stays. On each of these stays, it never failed that our stroller was stolen/taken. On each occasion the stroller was clearly tagged with a unique fabric. I would consider the replacement cost of the stroller as compared to the cost of rental. If there is such a thing as a stroller lock use it. Not every Disney guest is magical.

Or #10 DO panic.... I was suprisrd to learn that 5-10 strollers are STOLEN PER DAY at Disney. I found this out yesterday while talking to security and the police after mine was stolen. Disney has NO cameras on the stroller parking areas- yet the increase in stroller theft from the park is at an all time high. Helpful tips would be BUY A GPS TRACKER CHIP such as the Tile and HIDE it in your stroller. Invest in a LOCK so these horrible theirs can't easily make off with you property. It's disgusting that Disney hasn't done anything to try to prevent this from happening- we've been season ticket holders for years. It has gone downhill. We have made our last visit to the "happiest place on earth".

Most people doesn't want to carry a stroller in Disney land. But it is more comfortable to carry your child in a stroller than carrying on your body. Be wise to use a stroller. When you are about to go on a ride put your stroller in a parking place. A few days ago a woman lost her 1800$ stroller in Disney land while she was enjoying a ride. So keep yourself safe and let others be safe too. Use a travel stroller if you can. View some travel strollers here:

I was debating about taking a stroller for my 5-year-old. Its our first time to Disney world so i have no experience. I hate to say it but my girl is indeed lazy. But after reading everyone else's experiences, I think I would rather have a comfortable kid in a stroller vs an irritating kid whining all day, or even worse, carrying her on my back. So thanks for the info. It really helped to decide this for me. And who knows, maybe we'll try a day without the stroller and enjoy it or live to regret it.

Why don't they rent out the sit and stand strollers?Our Grandchildren are 4 and 8 I know at one point the 8 year old would probably like to sit and the 4 year old will be in the stroller at some point because sitting on top of shoulders gets old too. I can assure the 8yo will not want to sit in a stroller seat but would stand or sit on the back bench

I love my bob and want to bring it for my one year old. We are staying at a Disney resort so we'll have to take a bus to the park. Would a (folded) Bob fit on the bus?? We have a two year old too so I'm wondering how to manage on a crowded bus..

We've taken a Bob to the parks before, and have managed the collapsing and taking onto the bus routine many times. Just realize that, yes, the bus will be crowded but you won't be the only one with a stroller.

So how does it work with a stroller on the shuttle to the monorail and the monorail? I am bringing my baby trend double stroller (back to back, NOT side by side.) Absolutely nervous about this as its just my husband and I and my 2 year old has epilepsy and due to delays she can't walk and our 9 month old (obviously not walking yet.)

We are going to Disneyland this weekend and we have an 8 month old. Would you recommend we take a small umbrella stroller or her bigger stroller with storage? I'd like to take the bigger one for the storage and also so we can recline it when she is napping. I am just worried about it being too bulky.

We will be going to Disney once our son is about 4 weeks old. We have the Orbit stroller and we're wondering if we should take the car seat or the stroller seat with the base. Also how safe are the stroller parking? can anyone just take a stroller that isn't there's? Don't want to sound rude or uppity, but our stroller is a bit pricy and one concern is someone taking it (sad to say, these days that's something to worry about lol)

Me and my children are sue to fly out on Sunday, i was already looking into the option of getting a stroller for my 6yr old, as he can tire out wjen walking. However my 9 year old now has issues with her leg and gets pain and discomfort when walking. I can't decide whether to bring a kids wheelchair with me for them to share or hire a stroller whilst there. They seem very expensive to hire but it does sound more convenient

You have the option of renting a wheelchair as well if you decide that is how you would like to proceed. There is a lot of walking with a Disney World vacation, and the little ones who wouldn't normally need a stroller at home do sometimes benefit from having it in the parks.

Hi- I have a question about collapsing the strollers for the Disney shuttle buses (going from a Disney property to a park). Is there a separate area for strollers or do they need to fit under the seat? I am trying to decide whether or not to use an umbrella or BOB stroller. My preference is the BOB, but if we need to collapse it and fit it under the seat on a shuttle bus, it won't fit. Thanks!

There is not necessarily a separate area designated for strollers, but they don't have to fit under seats either. The stroller does have to fold and you'll just carry it with you onto the transportation vehicle (boat, bus, monorail, parking lot team, etc.) The only requirement is that it folds, but choose knowing that whichever you bring will be sharing the seat with you.

You will have your hands full! Because of the amount of walking (and the accessories you will likely want to bring—diaper bag, snacks, etc.), I would recommend the two doubles. That way, when the kiddos inevitably wear out and need a nap, they all have a place to rest without having to rotate or be carried.

I just wanted to throw this tid but of info out too for strollers. They also have disney featured providers, who are cheaper to rent from, deliver & pick up the stroller from the desk at your hotel, are better quality strollers, & even have special needs strollers, cribs, toddler beds, etc available for delivery. They even come with rain covers for no extra cost. They are listed on the disney site under strollers. Its magic strollers, orlando stroller renters, & kingdom strollers. They also fold up easily & compact for transportation.

With the strollers, it depends on the park. The only park that seems to have trouble with selling out is Magic Kingdom. Depending on which part of August, I don't foresee it being an issue. Early August, if you get there early in the day, it won't be a problem or if you come over later in the afternoon to spend the evening. Strollers are all rented on a first-come, first-serve basis. Honestly, if it's for one child, the umbrella strollers that are available in the parks (or one at Walmart/Target/etc.) are a comparable option and often easier to navigate through busy park areas. With stroller rentals at $16 (last time I checked) for a single, it can end up being about the same price or cheaper.

We are headed to Disney in a few weeks with a three year old and a two month old. Trying to decide if we should bring our double sit and stand stroller that is 52 inches long or just buy a light weight stroller that has a seat that flips into a bassinet so baby can use it when toddler is not. I plan on wearing the baby the rest of the time. What do others think? double or smaller stroller?

We are getting ready to head out for our disney trip in a few days. My two littlest are 2 and 1, I'm taking our sit & stand. I figure it may be bulky at times, but it pushes easily, and I like to be prepared for anything that tends to happen when you have 2 small children. This way I'll have more storage space for everything. We're taking things to wear both of them as well.

I do not recommend a sit and stand double stroller for 2 small children. There will be times when they both sleep at the same time, i promise, especially if you are trying to get your moneies worth by staying all day long.

Does anyone know if you can use the folding shopping/laundry carts in the parks? I have one I wanted to bring on our trip next month, but I'm not sure if they allow them. These come in different sizes and are more upright than a stroller & more compact.

We are heading to WDW for the first time in a few weeks. I'm surprised to see these photos with so much left behind in strollers! Are strollers and anything in them (obviously not valuables) generally safe while parked away from us? Also, I see coolers - this is allowed? Thanks for all the tips!

Thanh you so much for the useful article. At the moment I'm using a chicco echo twin stroller for my kids. Before choosing this stroller, I had read a review here: http://doubleumbrellastrollerguide.com/, they said it fits into standard doors easily. But I wonder if there are any issues when using this stroller at Disney World. Please help !

My husband and I have found a double stroller to be a must when going to the Disney parks. Our oldest daughter is 8, so she walked most of the time, however she did enjoy sitting down once in awhile. The double allowed my youngest (6) to ride during our marathon days at the park, and allowed enough room to store a backpack, cooler, etc. It definitely added convenience to our days. Here's our experience with the great stroller vs no stroller debate: http://www.askbritni.com/vacation-planning/should-i-rent-a-stroller-at-disney/

Strollers should be used for young children whom they were made for not oversized lazy kids (or parents that that can't control there kids in public) oversized children that are unable to properly fit in the stroller would have a wheelchair for their disabilities thus not needing to abuse and destroy strollers that would have to be replaced. This only causes the admission to go up because of unnecessary stroller replacement.

If you think that strollers are the reason of the tickets admission going up, then you don't need to spend money on Disney and go back to school. That is a dumb comment and mean, if I want my son to rest on the stroller, is something you don't need to be worry. If you think that is lazy, maybe the only lazy part is your brain, and watch your kids maybe they are have lazy brain too and will need more than stroller.

Not everyone's disabilities are visible. My son has multiple cogenital heart defects. He also has an increased heart rate (SVT) even while resting. Thus, he tires quickly and requires frequent rests. He will be 7 years old and we will be renting a double stroller so he can rest next to our 1 year old. Disney parks are massive, and I can't imagine him being able to walk any of them without breaks. That doesn't mean he shouldn't be allowed to enjoy all that is Disney. People who demean others for doing what is best for their child should be thankful they have healthy children. As a side note, my son as well as many other children who have to ride in strollers at these parks fully understand the rude remarks some people make about them, and it is shameful that an adult would want to ruin a child's day when A) it is none of their business and B) they have no idea why that child is in a stroller. My son has already been through multiple procedures to attempt to correct his heart defects, and if riding in a stroller for a week will bring him joy before having another procedure then that is what we will do. We will ROCK that stroller!

(Even perfectly healthy children get tired at theme parks and I don't see why it matters to anyone whether a child is in a stroller or not.)

For all of you who think like Virginia, please DO NOT go to Disney World between April 16th-22nd. I will be there alone with my 8 year old boy. We are renting a stroller and he will be in it most of the time. He looks normal and can even walk normally (some of the time). What you wouldn't recognize just by seeing my 8 yr old son at WDW is that he has a rare genetic disorder called 15q24 Microdeletion Syndrome. He can not speak. He is not potty trained. He functions mentally between 17 months and 33 months. Btw, he also has Epilepsy on top of all of this. I'm a 42 year old man who has taken my other 2 normal children to WDW by themselves on special trips. Now, it is James turn. I'm a patient, Christian man, but if I hear anybody like you, Virginia, or hear them say my child is oversized and lazy, or that I can't control my kid in public, I make you this promise: It will NOT be a happy nor a magical day for you or anybody you are with. You will be put in your place (not physically) in the most demeaning, embarrassing, publicly humiliating way possible. I know I'm not the only special needs parent that feels this way. Sure, we get looks all the time at various places, but if you ruin my son's day because of your bigoted, ignorant, unfounded beliefs, you will wish that you hadn't. Please pass this along. "Normal looking" kids have special needs too sometimes. Don't EVER forget that. EVER! God Bless.

Secondly - for you and anyone using a stroller for their child with special needs it might also be worth going to guest relations to get a pass so that if you need to you can take them in their stroller "as a wheelchair" into some attractions (ie not park in stroller parking during a long wait and have nowhere for them to rest). I don't have more details than that, but I know they do have something that allows for this.

My daughter is 8 & needs a stroller & not a wheelchair. Not because she is lazy, but because she has apraxia that causes her muscles to be weak & tire easily. You wouldn't know this by looking at her. And, she has asthma. So, please do not judge children by looking at them. Thank you.

Amen from a mom of a 9 year old with a muscle/joint disorder and sensory processing issues. He will be using a stroller when he gets tired from walking around the parks! Not all special needs kids use wheelchairs.

Don't be so quick to judge. Some families with children with disabilities do not require a wheelechair and simply need a resting place for their kiddo in such a large park.

And if you have a problem with the quality of rented strollers simply bring your own. Disney's strollers are tough plastic and can carry any size child. Also, just because a child is taking a break on a stroller it doea not make that child lazy. People don't call other adults lazy for sitting on a bench for a break...

Hi Sam, your idea is so good. I have a double stroller, but when I travel so far, I often rent it. I search some strollers, but I don't know if it's convenietn. http://www.toptenbestreview.com/best-double-stroller/

I used two identical umbrella strollers and stroller clips. I used the stroller clips to attach the strollers together, making a side-by-side double stroller. I could also use the strollers individually by undoing the stroller clips. There were some areas where I found a double stroller was too big and cumbersome. When we hit these spots, I would detach the strollers and hubby and I could push the kids seperately, making it easier to maneuver through the crowds.